Agitating apparatus



Jan. 31, 1961 J. A. PIKE 2,97,235

AGITATING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Jahn A. Pike Jan. 31, 1961 J PIKE 2,970,235

AGITATING APPARATUS Filed May 23, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 25 4e 54 3s 25 INVENTOR.

JOHN A. Pike United States l atent O AGITATING APPARATUS John A. Pike, Woodstock, N.Y., assignor to Tarrymont Inc., Cornwall Bridge, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed May 23, 1958, Ser. No. 737,363

2 Claims. (Cl. 310-83) The present invention relates to agitating apparatus, and more particularly to agitating apparatus especially adapted for agitating film during the developing process.

While the invention apparatus may be employed in various agitating applications, it is especially adapted for agitating film during the developing operation. When film is being developed, it is highly desirable to subject it to a rather uneven oscillatory motion which insures that the fluid surrounding the film will impinge upon all portions thereof, and that the fluid will be efficiently and constantly mixed so as to avoid undesirable concentrations of chemicals or impurities therein.

In order to obtain the desired agitation of film, it has been a common practice in the prior art to agitate the film by hand since ordinary mechanical oscillations thereof have not provided adequate results. Since hand agitation has proved to give superior results, one important purpose of the present invention is to provide an agitating motion Which more closely resembles the agitation produced by hand than any automatic agitating mechanism heretofore employed in the art.

Various automatic agitating devices have been designed, but such known devices have been excessively bulky and complex in structure, thereby necessitating an excessive amount of space and requiring frequent maintenance. The present invention provides an extremely simple and compact arrangement wherein the size of the mechanism has been reduced to a minimum, and the structure thereof is extremely sturdy and reliable in operation.

According to the present invention, a base member is provided with an overlying cover member thereby providing an extremely attractive outer appearance. A supporting frame is mounted upon the base plate and is completely enclosed by the cover. A driven connector means projects upwardly through an opening in the top of the cover, and a suitable agitator tray may be secured to the connector means. The entire driving mechanism of the present invention is mounted solely upon the support frame of the apparatus. It is, accordingly, evident that the support frame may be quickly and easily installed upon the base plate, and may be interchanged whenever desired with a minimum of effort. The support frame includes a plurality of vertically extending standards which extend between two substantially parallel disclike members. Reduction gearing is disposed between the disc-like members and supported thereby. A motor is mounted in a novel manner with relation to the remaining components of the apparatus by connecting the field magnets thereof to the standards so as to project substantially normal to the standards. The outer ends of the field magnets support a coil of the motor, and the rotor of the motor is mounted for rotation on a rotor shaft disposed substantially parallel to the vertically extending standards. In this manner, the height of the mechanism is reduced to a minimum, and an extremely compact arrangement is provided for connecting the motor with the remaining components of the apparatus.

2,970,235 Patented Jan. 31, 1961 ICC A crank arm is drivingly connected to the output portion of the reduction gearing, and is drivingly connected to a relatively large output gear by a connecting arm. The connecting arm is secured to the output gear adjacent the outer periphery thereof in such a manner that rotating movement of the crank arm is translated into oscillating motion of the gear. The crank arm is also connected in such a manner that the connector means is rotated at a substantially constant speed in one direction and then has a slight dwell, and then rotates in the opposite direction at a varying speed thereby providing the desired mode of agitation of the fluid within the agitator tray connected to the apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel agitating apparatus which is especially adapted for agitating film during the developing process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide agitating apparatus which substantially reproduces the agitating motion produced when film or the like is agitated by hand.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of agitating apparatus which is very compact and simple in construction, yet which is sturdy, efiicient and reliable in operation.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the accompanying specification and drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the agitating apparatus according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the cover and agitating tray removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Pig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Fig. 1 an agitating apparatus indicated generally by reference numeral 10 including a base portion 11 having a peripheral side wall 12, the lower portion only of which is seen in Fig. l. A plurality of support members 13 substantially hemispherical in configuration and preferably of a resilient friction substance, such as hard rubber or the like, are spaced equidistantly about and secured to the lower surface of the base for supporting the base on a suitable surface. A hollow cover member 15 having a substantially inverted cup-shaped configuration is mounted upon the base member, and is provided with a central opening formed in the top portion as seen most clearly in Fig. 3. The inner surface of the cover member is disposed in frictional engagement with the outer surface of the upwardly extending peripheral wall 12 of the base member, the lower portion of the inner surface of the cover being provided with a slight taper such that the cover member Wedges itself onto the wall 12 of the base member such that a small portion of wall 12 is visible when the cover member is mounted thereon as seen in Fig. l. A switch means 16 is mounted in the side wall of the cover such that the apparatus may be easily operated from the exterior thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the driving mechanism of the apparatus is disclosed, and as seen most clearly in Fig. 3, the entire driving mechanism is mounted upon a body means or support frame 20 comprising a pair of spaced plates 21 and 22 which are provided with four equally spaced integral tubular support portions 23 and 24- respectively which are disposed in abutting relationship with one another. Support portions 23 and 24 are each provided with central openings therethrough and a suitable fastening means is extended through the aligned openings in the supports for rigidly connecting the supports 23 and 24 together to provide four standards which maintain plates 21 and 22 in fixed spaced relationship to each other, thereby providing a rigid frame. Lower plate 22 is secured to the bottom wall of base 11 by means of nut and bolt assemblies 25 extending upwardly through spacing lugs 26 formed integral with the lower surface of plate 22.

As seen most clearly in Fig. 4, a pair of elongated field magnets 30 of the driving motor of the apparatus are. secured to an adjacent pair of standards and project substantially normally therefrom such that the field magnets extend substantially parallel to the lower wall of the base plate. The outer ends of field magnets 30 support a coil 31 of the motor and leads 32 and 33 are connected through switch means 16 to an electrical input cord 34 as seen in Fig. l, which projects through a suitable opening provided in the side wall of the cover.

The inner ends of the field magnets 30 are provided with arcuate portions 35 as seen in Fig. 2, and a conventional cylindrical rotor 36 is mounted between the inner ends of the field magnets such that the outer surface thereof is spaced a small distance from arcuate portions 35 of the field magnets. Rotor 36 is mounted upon a rotor shaft 37, the opposite ends of which are journalled in plates 21 and 22. The lower end of rotor shaft 37 is provided with peripheral teeth 38 which mesh with teeth 39 on a first reduction gear 40 mounted on shaft 41, the opposite ends of which are journalled in plates 21 and 22. A smaller gear 45 is also fixed to shaft 41 above gear 40 and is provided with peripheral teeth 46 which mesh with teeth 47 on a second reduction gear 43 fixed to a shaft 49, the lower end of which is journalled in plate 22 and the upper end of which is journalled in a tubular projection 49 formed integral with and extending downwardly from the lower surface of plate 21. A relatively small gear 50 is also secured to shaft 40 and has peripheral teeth 51 formed thereon which are in meshing engagement with peripheral teeth 52 of a third reduction gear 53 fixed to a shaft 54, the lower end of which is journalled in plate 22 and which extends upwardly through a hollow tubular member 55 formed integral with and extending downwardly from the lower surface of plate 21.

Shaft 54 extends upwardly above the top surface of plate 21 and has a crank arm 60 secured to the upper end thereof by a set screw 61. A pair of upwardly extending support members 64 and 65 are formed integral with the upper surface of plate 21 and tubular support members 66 and 67 are mounted upon members 64 and 65 respectively. A bar 70 extends in spanning relationship between tubular members 66 and 67 and engages the upper edges thereof. Bar 70 has a pair of openings at opposite ends thereof, and members 64 and 66 as well as members 65 and 67 are provided with openings aligned with the openings in the end of the bar such that threaded bolt members 71 may be extended through the aligned openings and threaded into threaded openings provided in members 64 and 65 for rigidly securing members 66, 6'7 and 70 in position as shown in Fig. 3, to provide a substantially inverted U-shaped support. A relatively large output gear 75 is journalled about the shank of the bolt member 71 extending through tubular member 67, gear 75 being disposed between the upper surface of member 65 and the lower surface of member 67. As seen most clearly in Fig. 2, a connecting arm 76 has one end thereof connected to the outer end 77 of the crank arm 60, and the opposite end thereof is connected eccentrically to gear 75 adjacent the outer periphery thereof. As seen in Fig. 3, the opposite ends of connecting arm 76 are bent downwardly and extend through suitable openings provided in the crank arm and the output gear for providing a driving connection between these members.

As seen most clearly in Fig. 3, an output shaft 80 has the lower end thereof journalled in plate 21, and extends upwardly above bar 70. Tubular spacing members 81 and 82 are disposed about shaft and are adapted to properly space a relatively small output gear 83 which is secured to shaft 81. It is apparent that tubular spacer 31 extends between the lower surface of gear 83 and the upper surface of plate 21, and tubular spacer 82 extends between the upper surface of gear 83 and the lower surface of bar '70. Output gears 75 and 83 are provided with meshing teeth, as seen most clearly in Fig. 2, for transmitting drive to the output shaft 80.

A connector member 90, which is substantially cy indrical in configuration and has the lower end portion thereof tapered inwardly, is provided with a central opening in the lower portion thereof Within which the upper end of output shaft 80 is rece-ved. A set screw 91 extends through a radial opening provided in connector member for engaging output shaft 80 and securing the connector member rigidly to the output shaft. The upper end of connector member 80 is provided with a central recessed threaded opening 93 providing a means whereby a suitable member to be agitated may be quickly and easily secured to the connector member. As shown in Fig. 3, a container indicated generally by reference numeral comprises a bottom wall 101 and an integral peripheral side wall 102 which define a cavity for receiving film and suitable fiuld therein. The lower surface of bottom wall 101 is provided with an integral threaded lug 103 which is received within threaded opening 93 for securing the container 100 to the connector member. The upper surface of lower wall 101 of the container has secured thereto a pad 105 preferably formed of a res lient friction material, such as rubber or the like. Pad 105 may be fixed to lower wall 101 by suitable means such as by bonding or the like, and pad 105 provides a support upon which the film normally rests. The resilient pad 105 provides the means whereby the film is prevented from slipping and moving about during the agitating operatlon, and in addition resilient pad 105 prevents the film from being damaged.

The operation of the device is as follows:

With the apparatus in assembled position as shown in Fig. l, with the agitator tray or container 100 mounted upon connector member 90 which extends upwardly through the central opening in cover 15, the film and treating fluid are placed within the upwardly facing cavity of the agitating tray. Switch 16 is then actuated to energize the motor of the driving mechanism, thereby causing rotor 36 of the motor to be driven in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrow A in Fig. 4 at a substantially constant speed. Counterclockwise rotation of rotor shaft 37 causes clockwise rotation of shaft 40 as indicated by arrow B which, in turn, produces counterclockwise rotation of gear 48 as indicated by arrow C, which finally produces clockwise rotation of gear 53 as indicated by arrow D. It is apparent that each of gears 40, 45, 48, 50 and 53 serves as reduction gearing whereby the relatively high speed rotation of rotor 36 produces a relatively slow speed of rotation of gear 53 and shaft 54.

As seen in Fig. 2, crank arm 60 is continuously driven in a clockwise direction about the axis of shaft 54. The rotary motion of crank arm 60 is translated to oscillatory motion of gear 75 through connecting arm 7 6, and oscilla tory movement of gear 75 is translated through gear 83 to output shaft 30, whereby the agitator tray secured to connector member 90 is caused to oscillate back and forth to provide suItable agitation of the fluid disposed Within the cavity of the agitator tray.

It is, accordingly, apparent from the foregoing that actuation of the driving motor of the mechanism will produce oscillation of the agitator tray. An important feature of the invention is the fact that the driving mechanism is so constructed and arranged as to substantially reproduce the action which is obtained when a tray is agitated by hand. As pointed out previously, this desired action is produced by providing a substantially constant movement of the connector member 90 and the connecting output elements and the associated agitator tray in one direction followed by a short dwell, and then actuating the connector member and tray in the opposite direction initially at a relatively slow speed which accelerates toward the end of the motion in such opposite direction. This action substantially duplicates the motion provided when the tray is agitated by hand. In order to provide this action, the connector arm 76 is connected between crank arm 60 and output gear 75 in a novel manner.

As seen in Fig. 2, connector arm 76 has one end thereof connected to the outer end of crank arm 60 and the opposite end thereof is connected to a point on gear 75 which is remote from the axis of rotation thereof. The point of rotation of connector arm 76 to gear 75 is important and is selected such that when the axis of shaft 54 and the points of connection of connecting arm 76 to crank arm 60 and gear 75 are aligned as shown in Fig. 2, rotation of crank arm 60 in a clockwise direction will immediately cause rotation of gear 75 in a clockwise direction. When the outer end of crank arm 60 is disposed on the opposite side of shaft 54 as seen in Fig. 2 such that shaft 54 is disposed between the points of connection of the connecting arm to the crank arm and to the gear, rotation of the crank arm in a clockwise direction for a short distance will produce no movement of gear 75, thereby providing a small dwell. After such small clockwise movement of crank arm 60, gear 75 will then be moved in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2. Continued clockwise movement of crank arm 60 at a constant speed produces counterclockwise movement of gear 75 which accelerates toward the end of its movement in a counterclockwise direction. When crank arm 60 again reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, the movement of gear 75 will be substantially instantly changed from a counterclockwise movement to a clockwise movement. In the foregoing manner, the desired mode of operation is obtained such that the agitation of the tray is similar to that obtained with hand agitation.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided a new and novel agitating apparatus especially adapted for agitating film during the developing process. The apparatus provides an agitating motion similar to that obtained with hand agitation. The apparatus is extremely compact in construction, and yet is quite sturdy and efficient in operation.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. Agitating apparatus comprising a rigid support frame including a pair of spaced plates supported in relationship to one another by a plurality of substantially vertically extending support portions, driving motor means includ ing a pair of laterally extending spaced field magnets disposed substantially parallel to one another, each of said field magnets being supported only at one end thereof by one of said support portions, the outer ends of said field magnets supporting a coil such that the motor ex tends substantially normally from said support portions and laterally of the support frame, said motor also including a rotor adjacent said one end portions of said field magnets and mounted for rotation upon a rotor shaft extending substantially parallel to said support portions and journaled within said frame, a plurality of intermeshing reduction gears drivingly connected to said rotor shaft and disposed in parallel planes extending substantially normally to said vertically extending support portions, a crank arm drivingly connected to said reduction gearing and extending in a plane substantially parallel with the planes of said reduction gears, said reduction gears being disposed between said plates and said crank arm being positioned on the opposite side of one of said plates from said reduction gearing, a relatively large output gear rotatably supported on said one side of said plate and disposed in a plane substantially parallel to that of the crank arm, and a connecting arm having a first end thereof connected to the outer end of said crank arm and the opposite end thereof connected to said output gear at a point spaced outwardly of the axis of rotation of said output gear, said connecting arm being connected between said crank arm and said output gear in such a manner that continuous rotation of said crank arm produces movement of the output gear in a first direction at a substantially constant speed whereupon further rotation of the crank arm results in a slight dwell or non-movement of the output gear and thence further rotation of the crank arm causes movement of the output gear in the opposite direction at an accelerated rate.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a relatively small output gear rotatably supported by said frame and in meshing engagement with said large gear, said small gear being fixed to a substantially vertically extend ing output shaft disposed parallel to the rotor shaft, and connector means rigidly secured to the upper end of said output shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 715,301 Schodron Dec. 9, 1902 1,317,886 Muchow Oct. 7, 1919 1,777,662 Engberg et a1 Oct. 7, 1930 1,898,221 Snyder Feb. 21, 1933 2,063,976 Bateholts Dec. 15, 1936 2,104,283 Webster Jan. 4, 1938 2,374,718 Andrews May 1, 1945 

